Sasha Banks/Mercedes Mone Makes NJPW Debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17

Sasha Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, made her NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17 at Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2023.

Mone’ was rumored to be appearing at Wrestle Kingdom for a month now. Those rumors turned out to be true before the first hour of Wrestle Kingdom 17 at Tokyo Dome main show ended.

KAIRI(formerly known as Kairi Sane in WWE) was able to successfully defend her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano in the second match of Wrestle Kingdom 17 at Tokyo Dome. Following this, The CEO Mercedes Mone’ new theme hit and she made her way to the ring.

KAIRI showed off her title to Mone which brought a handshake from Mone’. However, Mone’ decked KAIRI and hit her with a modified DDT, which might be Mone’ new finisher Statement Maker. After this, The CEO announced that she will challenge for IWGP Women’s title at NJPW Battle in the Valley event in San Jose, CA, on February 18, 2023.

Sasha Banks, as she was known in WWE, walked out of WWE RAW tapings in May last year. She reportedly got her release from WWE sometime in the summer of 2022, but a non-compete clause was added to her release until January 1, 2023.

Sasha is also expected to be heading to AEW on the January 11 episode of Dynamite as the mystery partner for Saraya. Will it be the case? Keep tuned in for the latest updates.